Nigeria's challenge is no longer the availability of natural gas but ensuring access to the resource for industries, businesses and households, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, has said.
Minister Calls for Urgent Action on Gas Access
Speaking at the Association of Local Distributors of Gas (ALDG) Business Forum 2026 in Abuja on Thursday, Ekpo called for urgent action to convert the country's vast gas reserves into energy solutions that support industrialisation, economic growth and job creation.
The minister said that although Nigeria has more than 209 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves, among the largest globally, the country must focus on expanding access and utilisation if it is to realise the benefits of the resource.
“Nigeria's development will not be measured by the volume of gas beneath our soil, but by the extent to which that gas powers industries, supports households, creates jobs, and fuels sustainable economic growth,” he said.
Keynote Address on Gas Distribution Imperatives
Represented by Mrs. Ikenma Irene, Director of Midstream and Downstream, the minister delivered a keynote address on the theme, “From Gas Abundance to Gas Access: Reassessing Nigeria's Gas Distribution Imperatives.”
He said Nigeria must move decisively from gas abundance to gas accessibility, noting that reliable energy access and efficient markets have been central to the economic advancement of industrialised nations.
According to him, success of the vision will require policy consistency, strong institutions, strategic investments, infrastructure expansion, security collaboration and stakeholder partnerships.
Government Efforts to Deepen Gas Utilisation
Ekpo also highlighted ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to deepen domestic gas utilisation through the Decade of Gas initiative and other reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria's gas economy.
He added that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 has improved the legal and regulatory framework for attracting investment, encouraging private sector participation and expanding infrastructure across the sector.
The minister while urging participants to focus on practical and investment-driven solutions that would expand gas access and deliver measurable benefits to Nigerians, he urged stakeholders to focus on expanding gas access and building a sector that supports industries, households, job creation and national development.
“Let us move from gas abundance to gas access. Let us move from policy to implementation. Let us build a gas economy that works for all Nigerians,” he said.
